In the special place
for little ones slowly
rising on the Plano
Campus, one corner will
be extra special.
Several rooms at the Saunders Children’s Building, with
a separate entry, special lighting, special textures, special
décor, will serve the 70 or so children and adults in the
Special Needs Ministry. Many are young children with
autism or Down Syndrome. Some are bigger kids dealing
with those same challenges and the growing pains every
child faces. And there are adults, too, who learn best about
our Savior and Lord in a place they can call their own.
For Jessica Baldridge, Director of the Special Needs
Ministry, this new space is an answered prayer—her
own, as the mother of an adult son with autism, and the
prayer of every parent of a child with special needs.
The Saunders Children’s Building “means our kids will
have a place especially for them,” she says.
Prestonwood is blessed to have such a ministry because
Pastor Graham has a heart for it and embraces it, she
said. The program differs from those of many other
churches because it aims to provide much
more than just a place where children will
be kept safe while parents attend services.
“We wanted this to be a teaching time,”
said Sondra Saunders, Senior Preschool/
Children’s Minister. “But at the same time,
we want it to be a safe haven.”
“Everyone embraces the little children,”
Jessica said, “but people tend to forget
that these little children grow up. So at
Prestonwood, we try to help these kids
and adults to know that when they step
foot on this property, they’ll be loved
unconditionally.”
Prestonwood is blessed to have such a ministry because
Pastor Graham has a heart for it and embraces it, she
said. The program differs from those of many other
churches because it aims to provide much
more than just a place where children will
be kept safe while parents attend services.
